Disrupting the behavior and development cycle of wood-boring insects with vibration

ABSTRACT

A method of disrupting the normal behavior and natural development cycle of wood-boring insects by applying mechanical vibrations and detecting wood-boring insects by monitoring their vibration patterns.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/709662, filed Dec. 10, 2019 and entitled Disrupting the behavior and development cycle of wood-boring insects with vibration, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Insects like the Emerald Ash Borer, Asian Longhorn Beetle and Mountain Pine Beetle are destroying our forests. There are no simple ways to stop the spread of these insects. It is known that predators can detect some of their prey by listening for and hearing their prey move below the surface. Examples of this are the robin and the worm, the mole and the grub and the woodpecker and the wood-boring insect. It is also known that prey may stop moving when it knows a predator is nearby. An example of this is the wood-boring insect will stop moving when it detects the vibrations of a nearby woodpecker pecking. It is also known that adult and larvae insects cannot remain immobile for an extended period or their natural development cycle will be disrupted and they may have impaired development or die of starvation. This invention capitalizes on this natural predator/prey interaction to kill insects in trees.

The maximum frequency of a woodpecker pecking on a tree is 20 times per second (20 Hz). The maximum velocity that a woodpecker's head reaches is 7 meters per second. The maximum G-force that each peck from a woodpecker can generate is 1500 Gs within 1 millisecond.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention generates vibration and this vibration is mechanically coupled to a tree in which wood-boring insects are present. These vibrations are detected by the insects and cause them to significantly slow down or stop their movements. Applying the vibrations for a duration of time disrupts the insect's behavior and natural development cycle. An extended disruption results in an impaired insect that may die or minimize its damage to the tree. Great applications of this invention would be to stop the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer, Asian Longhorn Beetle and Mountain Pine Beetle and other invasive insects that destroy trees.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiment of the invention is depicted in more detail in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 .

FIG. 1 shows the main components of this invention.

-   1. Signal Generator -   2. Vibration Transducer -   3. Tree -   4. Microphone -   5. Signal Analyzer -   6. Solar Panel -   7. Battery -   8. Power Outlet

FIG. 2 shows one possible mechanical implementation of this invention.

-   9. Dual Threaded Screw Post -   10. Nuts and Washers -   11. Mounting Plate -   12. Vibration Transducer -   13. Controller including Signal Generator, Signal Analyzer and     Microphone -   14. Wires and Connector

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention's main structural component is a Dual Threaded Screw Post 9. One end of this post is tapered and can be either threaded like a wood screw or smooth like a nail. This end is mounted through the bark of a tree and into its wood. Located on the other end of this post is a Mounting Plate 11. This plate can be either mated to the post using Nuts and Washers 10 or the plate can be manufactured as part of the post.

The purpose of the Mounting Plate 11 is to mount the Controller 13 and Vibration Transducer 2 & 12. The Controller includes Signal Generator 1, Microphone 4 and Signal Analyzer 5. The Wires and Connector 14, provide electrical connectivity between the Controller 13 and Vibration Transducer 2 & 12.

A Solar Panel 6, Battery 7 and/or Power Outlet 8 provide power to the Signal Generator 1 and Signal Analyzer 5 via Wires and Connector 14. The Signal Generator 1 creates an electrical waveform and sends this waveform to the Vibration Transducer 2 & 12. The electrical shape of the waveform is representative of the vibration to be generated by the Vibration Transducer 2 & 12. This can range in frequency from 0.1 Hz to 20 Hz with preferred frequencies ranging from 1 Hz to 5 Hz.

The Vibration Transducer 2 & 12 converts the electrical waveform into mechanical vibrations that are transferred into the Tree 3 via the Mounting Plate 11 and Dual Threaded Screw Post 9. The mechanical vibrations propagate throughout the Tree 3 in a ringing decay mannerism.

The vibrations are similar to the vibrations generated when a woodpecker is pecking on the Tree 3 while foraging for wood-boring insects. The insects detect this vibration and slow or stop their movement so they will not be detected by the ‘would be’ predator. The duration of the vibrations disrupts the insect's movement and activity, including its eating habits. This prolonged disruption alters their natural development cycle and results in a deformed insect, which reduces its ability to damage the Tree 3, or it dies of starvation, which stops further damage to the Tree 3.

Different species of insects can have different predators. Therefore, the Signal Generator 1 can produce waveforms with varying amplitude, frequency, shape, duty cycle and duration to more closely match that of the selected predator.

The Microphone 4 and Signal Analyzer 5 are used together to monitor the movement and activity of the insects in the tree. The same Dual Threaded Screw Post 9 that is used to mount the invention to the Tree 3 and transfer the vibrations into the Tree 3 is also used to transfer the movement and activity vibrations generated by the insects in the Tree 3 to a Microphone 4 on the Mounting Bracket 11. This monitoring can provide the system with information to know when the insects have slowed and/or died. The Signal Analyzer 5 can halt the Signal Generator 1 when the elimination is complete. It can provide input to the Signal Generator 1 to modifywaveform. It may also provide a status output, such as LED lights.

The description of the invention and its applications as set forth herein is illustrative and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Features of various embodiments may be combined with other embodiments within the contemplation of this invention. Variations and modifications of the embodiments disclosed herein are possible, and practical alternatives to and equivalents of the various elements of the embodiments would be understood to those of ordinary skill in the art upon study of this patent document. These and other variations and modifications of the embodiments disclosed herein may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. 

1. An apparatus comprising: a vibration transducer; a signal analyzer; a power source; a post; a mounting plate attached to the post; and a controller comprising a signal generator, a signal analyzer and microphone, wherein the vibration transducer having a mechanical frequency range and controller are connected via a connector, wherein the mechanical frequency range is from 0.1 Hz to 20 Hz.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power source is a battery, a solar panel, an electrical outlet, or a combination of thereof.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the microphone and signal analyzer are in communication with each other.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the microphone and signal analyzer communicate with the signal generator.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the signal generation is stopped, the signal analyzer is in communication with an LED which causes illumination of the LED. 